Wheaton College - IL Reviews

"I was a Community Art major when I was at Wheaton. It was great. I really enjoyed the classes and the professors that I had while I was there. If I were writing to my past self, I would tell them that if they are not wiling to pursue a graduate degree or double major with another degree, they will most likely have a rough time figuring out employment afterward. Community Art is the mixture of a few different degrees, rolled into one so unless you have a clear direction for what you'll be doing after graduating, it's going to be tough to figure out post-grad life. In regards to Wheaton in general, I had a good experience there but wouldn't recommend it for everyone. The professors are great and by and large you can find people who you'll connect with since students come from all over the country and world. However, it is a culturally white institution and is still learning to care for their non-white students well. Wheaton's academics are also rigorous so you'll have to figure out how to take care of yourself well while you're there so you don't drown in all of the work. Otherwise, Wheaton is a pretty welcoming place that wants to push its students to be the best they can be and have an impact on the world."

"I recommend pursuing an English degree at Wheaton College. The professors are willing to engage with students both within and outside of class. The Writing Center, where I worked as a student, provides help at all stages of the paper-writing process. The classes are interesting and rigorous. Wheaton College has a strong English program. The only downside to the Writing degree is that not enough classes focused on writing, as opposed to literature, were required."

"The level of academic rigor mixed with supportive faculty and staff is one of Wheaton College's best qualities as an institution. My professors challenged me to learn for the sake of learning rather than simply getting good grades or passing the class. The faculty is very engaging and excited to work with students at a one on one level. The personal instruction and guidance was invaluable for me as I grew as a musician, as an academic, and as a person. I highly recommend Wheaton College for students who are looking for personal guidance from professors and advisors, a respected college name on their resume, a thriving music conservatory to refine their musicianship, an inclusive college experience with extracurricular activities, or even just good food (the cafeteria is one of the best in the nation). I've become so much more of the person I want to be through my education at Wheaton College."

"I attended Wheaton College, IL for my undergraduate degree. I had a wonderful college experience where I grew a lot as an individual, a student, and an artist. I really enjoyed the many opportunities to get plugged in. I was involved in my dorm floor and the activities that my RA hosted. We had a tea time in the middle of the day to relax together, chat, eat yummy baked snacks, and take a break from our studies. We also hosted late night parties on our floor and invited other floors to join. Sometimes we would decorate other floors at midnight and leave fun surprises for them. I really felt cared for by my RA and the upper classmen who lived down the hall from me. On Valentine's Day they decorated the hall with paper hearts and left little baskets of chocolate and a sweet note in front of every door. Some of my good friends came from this community, and we stayed in each others' lives all throughout the four years. Another community I was able to be a part of was the theater community. This was one of the most special groups I have been a part of. The people were so welcoming and inclusive. I felt free to be vulnerable with them and trusted them completely. They weren't afraid to challenge me artistically as well as personally. I learned so much about how to care for others, how to listen well, how to be a good friend. This was an extra bonus, since I had only anticipated on continuing my education and learning more about theater. I received so much more, a priceless gift. Plus, we performed high quality shows that the college campus loved to attend and support. Wheaton College also challenged me academically. The professors have high standards for their students, always challenging me to bring about my best work. Even though classes were tough, my professors really showed that they wanted to invest and care for each of their students. My business professors all knew my name since I was involved in the department. They also had some great opportunities to go overseas to learn how businesses in other countries worked. Wheaton College, IL was a great foundation for me as an undergraduate, providing rigorous academic opportunities and fulfilling friendships and communities. There was a lot of fun and learning happening all the time. This school is a good fit for students looking for a place to grow and learn and surround themselves with genuine people."

"If you fit within the stereotype of the college population (White, Type A, conservative Christian) you will probably enjoy your time here. If you bring diversity in anyway, prepare to have a more difficult experience. The education its self is of extremely high quality, but you have to put up with a lot socially during the four years. The only way I would recommend a woman of color to attend the school would be if they got a full scholarship!"

"Wheaton College is a prestigious and religious institution that is known for academic rigor and deep thought. The professors care deeply about your whole self as a student and will help grow you in and outside of the classroom. While attending you will bump shoulders with some of the great thinkers of the future and find yourself challenged and encouraged toward excellence."

"I have always been fascinated by words. As a kid, nothing thrilled me more that the potential of a long Saturday with nothing but a big stack of library books for company. I would curl up in a patch of sunshine and spend my day lost in imaginary worlds filled with magic pebbles, mysterious cloaked strangers, and rooms guarded by silent statues of jade. As I grew, so did my love of books. Entering college, I never thought about any major other than English LiteratureI mean, a major where all you had to do was sit around and read books all day? I was sold! However, I soon learned that being an English major was about more than just reading Shakespearean sonnets and writing esoteric papers about the Freudian undertones in Nathaniel Hawthornes short story The Birth-Mark. It was about reaching across time and space to commune with authors and learn about how they saw the world, then bringing my newfound knowledge back to my own world and learning how to apply it. My passion for language is what has encouraged me to seek a career in speech pathology. As a speech pathologist, I can share my love of words with others who struggle with the spoken word. I want to be able to share the beauty that words hold for me with others around me. But before I can share my enthusiasm, I need to leave my comfort zone and learn to put myself in their shoes, to see the world through their eyes, to understand the root of their problems. Only once I gather this information can I apply my knowledge and work together with my patient toward a solution."

"While currently enrolled at Wheaton College Graduate School, I have found my experience in the Doctorate of Clinical Psychology program challenging, meaningful, and professionally developmental. Specifically, my time here has made me reconsider much of my previously held beliefs in light of information given in class. Diversity is discussed frequently in the context of developing as a clinical psychologist, with professors and fellow students alike providing a wide array of perspectives that will challenge and hone the skills of any student. While it can be difficulty to find a mentor, professors are willing to meet and get to understand you on a highly personal level. My work with my research chair has been immensely insightful, both personally and theoretically. Finally, Wheaton College has an abundance of connections with practicum sites in the greater Chicago area that, in the course of your training here, you will be helped step-by-step along the way to apply and receive direct clinical supervision in a high-quality training setting."

"The smaller size offers more in-depth classroom discussions and allows professors more time to invest in the students who want to learn further. I found the professors to be excellent in their teaching and guidance of the topics while also remaining neutral in their opinions (as far as the political science courses) which gave students the opportunity to come to their own decision on their beliefs. The campus is beautiful and the old buildings offer a great history; just a quick walk and you can hop the train to Chicago to explore museums or relax at the Oak Street Beach. The school offers many study abroad opportunities and international summer programs. While the on-campus diversity is a bit lacking the school works hard to reach out and increase the student body diversity. I loved my time at Wheaton!"

"I loved my time at Wheaton College. Wheaton is definitely not without its flaws, every school has a downside to it, but they are certainly doing their best to provide an exceptional college experience to students. The academic rigor is what I most appreciated, as I feel incredibly well prepared for my career. I did not particularly love my major, but I feel that is because it wasn't a good fit for me personally. Fortunately majors don't necessarily define your career path, and this science major is now in the business world. I think that speaks to how well I was prepared by Wheaton, however, that I was able to get an exceptional job in the business world without a background in business. I also really appreciated the extracurricular activities provided at Wheaton, as there was so much variety and each opportunity provided a lot of leadership development. My skills were most honed during my time on the Student Government, where I was extremely supported by staff and faculty who wanted to see me thrive in my leadership role. This is probably the opportunity that developed me the most during my time as an undergraduate student."

"The Wheaton College Conservatory of music is a very academically rigorous school which may be discouraging to some but overall, the Professors are beyond a doubt some of the best int the country. They come alongside every student to meet personal needs and ensure growth as an academic, musician, and as an individual. I would highly recommend this school to anyone seeking a degree in music."

"Wheaton College is the premier Christian institution to attend. It has some of the greatest evangelical minds in the country, and a deep commitment to raising up faithful followers of Christ for the benefit of the Church. The Bible/Theology department is the best undergraduate program of its kind, and the work that is done in the undergraduate program can often be found in graduate level classes. If you are looking to go into ministry or some form of academic theology, Wheaton and the Bible/Theology program will prepare you better than any other institution, with rigorous but fair academics, a faculty that cares immensely for its students, and an environment that encourages pursing God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength."

"Wheaton College is an absolutely wonderful place to learn in all capacities, since it is a liberal arts institutions. I was able to learn in many arenas, from anthropology to sociology to biology. The small size allows for good interactions with professors, with whom I am still great friends with. It fosters a wonderful community and a love for learning. I would highly recommend it!!"

"I loved Wheaton. It was by far the best decision I have ever made in my life and the education I got there will be the most prized possession I have."

"The Marriage and Family Therapy program at Wheaton college has an amazing and supportive faculty. The program is designed to really help you discover who you are as a person and as a therapist. In order for this to happen effectively, there needs to be safe space and support which the faculty both outline well and provide well. The academic part of the program may not be as rigorous as some (this is something to keep in mind if this is important to you), but the emotional growth and self discovery is both very difficult and very valuable. This program really sets you up to be the greatest therapist that you could be. The living arrangements are quite expensive in this area, but the town of Wheaton is beautiful and downtown Chicago is only a train ride away."

"Pros: Christian background, strong academics, rigorous research. Cons: no set up practica, not fully funded"

"The faculty and design of the program are its major strengths. The high cost of the program is a definite down side."

"This program is perfect for someone who is looking to work in the mental health counseling field."

"It was a smaller program, so there was a lot of individualized attention and a great community. I don't really have many cons for the program. I would have liked to see greater student diversity."

"I feel like the pros of my graduate program are that there are a limited number of people in this field of study, so the attention that I receive as a grad student is more as there are less students in my classes. I also feel like it is well suited to what I would like to do in the future, and it is preparing me well. The cons of my graduate program are that there is not as much flexibility in my schedule as I would like. But other than that, it's been a great experience so far."